zaha hadid architects 3D prints thallus experimental structure in milan

named after the greek word for flora that has no differentiation between stem and leaf, ‘thallus’ is an experimental structure created by zaha hadid architects for the occasion of milan design week 2017. ‘thallus’ continues and demonstrates (ZHA code) research group’s exploration into generating geometries through computation.

all images © luke hayes

the sculptural piece displayed at the accademia di belle arti di brera in milan investigates form and pattern generated by advanced manufacturing and computational methods created by automated additive manufacture. as well as hot-wire cutting technology, the structure presents the firm’s on-going investigations into robotic assisted design undertaken by zaha hadid architects’ computational design; demonstrating what can now be achieved in terms of mechanization and customization in the architecture, construction and engineering industries.

ts shape is tailored to a trimmed cylinder that enables a hot-wire cutting process to create the mold

in turn, the design explores differential growth methods through expansion and diffusion arising from a single continuous seed curve guided iteratively via simulation parameters while constrained to a reference surface. six-axis robotic 3D printing technology led to the creation of the 7 km long extruded structural strip seen as a continuous line that repeatedly loops to connect with itself on a ruled surface. its shape is tailored to a trimmed cylinder that enables a hot-wire cutting process to create the mold of the base on which the continuous structural strip has been robotically 3D printed.

the design explores differential growth methods through expansion and diffusion arising from a single continuous
seed curve

‘thallus’ is a greek word greek word for flora that has no differentiation between stem and leaf

the sculptural piece displayed at the accademia di belle arti di brera

the continuous structural strip has been robotically 3D printed

a play of shadow is created by the winding and spiraling form

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